19 August 2017

Home Tour 2017

This is a re-share first published 3/28/17. We were out of town for the summer with limited internet, so I hope to share here soon.
This is an older small home.

I chose the colors based on Burano, Italy and a once neighbor who had a pink house.

I didn't want a shade of brown house.

It looks like a beach house, but it's in the desert. I spent almost half my life in California, so it probably had some effect on the choice as well.

It is small... less than 1100 square feet, but the porch is almost 300 square feet.
The porch has no AC... You would think that would be a problem here. It's not, because there is a really thick foam roof over it and new insulation in the walls. I can leave the doors open all year round, and we can do the laundry and work out there without fainting. All I have is a fan on the ceiling. That's it.

This is what I love. When you walk in you can see all the way to the porch. It didn't always look this way. It was a lot of work, mostly done by my husband and I over the course of four years.

My style...

I love French country and Nordic style, but I also love Italy and the Mexican influence in the southwest.

The glassware is a mix of found, new, old, and an accent of Anthropologie (no one made me say that.)

Outside the Kitchen Door in the Carport

Because it is a carport, I had to have something pretty to look at directly outside my kitchen door.

Dining Area with View to the Sleeping Porch

Presently I have Easter decor on the porch, but I change the display in front of the chalkboard seasonally.

Sleeping Porch

I drew the art and made the eggs, white pointed garland, and wreath.

The chalkboard, the console, the chair are all second hand.

A Place to Read

Old with new and handmade again...

The walls on the porch are block bricks and wood siding all painted white.

We use this as a daybed or a spot for relatives when they come into town.

The pillows are from local shops.

One of the desk areas... I had not shown this before. I've had this desk sort of pushed off to the side for awhile, because I did not know what to do with it. I love it, and I didn't want to put it in storage. One day last week, I was looking at this wall, and I thought, turn it to fit in front of the door to a bedroom that we don't use, and move the painting to this side. Well it looks so pretty, and now it is a favorite spot! There is also a table behind the sofa for projects and a computer station and armoire by the laundry area.

On this side of the porch is the laundry, computer, and tea/coffee area and storage for towels and more books.

The Madhatter Library

Whenever I can, I prefer a painting to a print.

I love landscapes and sometimes portraits.

Our library is a little over the top. We love Alice in Wonderland.

lots of books and lots of collectibles

Most of the furniture and accessories are second hand finds except for the Bombay chest and mantel.

We also grow flowers like roses, sunflowers (in the fall though they will grow twice per year), and others. Plus there hopefully will be a wild flower bloom. Some years it is good, some years not so good.

The pergola follow the shape of the patio, so it's curved.

That's our olive tree.

The three amigos. My older poodle never gets involved in these adventures.

Welcome to our vintage 1940s cottage fixer: built when homes were a big petite 1000 square feet with sleeping porches for summer cool. I adore romantic, vintage, a ruffle of French, Nordic, and Swedish country with a sprinkle of cottage glam: a relaxed whimsical, elegance. It's our home, and there is painting, music, gardening, creating, living, kitties, french poodles, (and a pug)...imperfect with luster.

67 comments:

Su, It looks just great!! You have done a wonderful job with your whole house and made every inch count! It is lovely and it looks like it 'lives large'. It is so pretty and comfortable feeling. I would feel right at home there--inside or out. Thanks for sharing it here. I don't remember ever doing a tour of your home before. Have a wonderful week- xo Diana

Thank you so much, Diana. Thank you for stopping by. I've been missing for a few weeks. It was a hard month. I lost a very dear relative, and a friend, and then our pug had an allergic reaction to a bee sting, and now our old adopted Siamese cat is failing :( It does seem to come in waves, doesn't it? Have a wonderful week dear. xoxo Su

First, I'm sorry for the passing of your relative and friend. Hope your little pug is doing well, scary with the bees here. Thinking of your kitty, you have a heart of gold with the rescue kitties. You made your home into a beautiful retreat in the desert. Love your backyard!Kathleen in Az

Thank you so much, Kathleen. Our pug is doing better now, but wow did she give us a scare! In regards to the rescues, I have to give the credit to my daughter, she started us with that venture. I really enjoy working in the garden. xoxo Su

What a lovely tour of your desert bungalow Su. I have always, always, loved your porch daybed. It is my favorite spot in your home. But your newly redone bedroom sanctuary is so heavenly. I enjoy seeing your gardens too, since our gardens are so similar. We use crushed granite to surround our raised beds and roses and trees, etc. instead of gravel. We just had a fresh truck load delivered two weekends ago to refresh. We also used some river rock in certain areas. Soon we will plant our Summer vegetables. We already have strawberries and onions and herbs growing. Your home and gardens are a peaceful respite and so beautiful. !So glad that I came by to visit!

Thank you so much, Kerrie. Our gardens sound very similar. In the backyard I have the pebbles and two paths of crushed granite. One is between the beds and the other leads to the teen shed. We rented a roller to compact it. I think it makes it last a little bit longer, and then I brush it with a broom periodically to make it look nice again. In the front I have river rock. I used that so people would not kick the rocks into the street. I like it much better for front applications. I love strawberries. Someday I am going to remember to try to plant them in the fall. I've tried them in the spring, but it is too hot here, but thinking they will work in our "cooler" weather. Thanks for stopping by and telling me all about your gardens. I would love to see photos of it sometime. xoxo Su

Thank you so much for sharing about the compacter for the crushed granite. I told my husband and he said that he can borrow one from his landscaper. I do not know if I will be sharing our gardens on my blog or IG. I am not as active on social media anymore. I rather enjoy being less plugged in. And as you know it takes many hours of the day to tend to our gardens. Thank you for the beauty you so gently share.

This is all quite lovely. I couldn't help but be reminded of Sissinghurst by your use of out-buildings, or as you call them sheds. You have done this as Vita Sackvill-West did in a very effective manner.

I am curious are the hoops on your raised be made out of copper? I want to do something like this but I am not quite sure how to bend it. It is easy with PVC pipe but not so attractive.

Thank you, what a lovely comment, and to imagine that I have my very own little estate is so special. I took the virtual tours of the castle. What a lovely place!

The hoops are made of PVC and painted with Rustoleum Copper. They are about 3 years old now and still look great. I mainly use them to put shade cloth on in the summer, but occasionally I use them to tie down some covers the three or four cool nights of the year.

Thank you for your lovely visit and the information on the Sissinghurst. xoxo Su

You really live in such a charming world, my darling Sue, even if it's in the desert, your home is so hertwarming and cozy, you truly put your heart in it, you're surronded by such a wonder, even in your garden you can enjoy delight and gladness !!!

Every photo is a treasure Su. So lovely. I also live in a small house and it is fun to see what you have accomplished with yours. I have been toying with the idea, actually plotting and planning, about changing a chicken coop into a people space so it is fun to see how you expanded your living space to your outbuildings. Great home tour post.

I was drawn to your blog several years ago when I saw pictures of your wonderful kitchen. Your transformations are amazing. You have created the most beautiful spaces for "BEING". Thank you for sharing.

Your combination of decorating styles is eclectically evident throughout your beautiful and inviting home and garden. Your daughter's she shed is charmingly storybook and my second favourite space, the first being your most recent vignette: the writing desk/armoire/rose painting niche!

Thank you, Poppy. My daughter's space and that desk are two of my favorite spaces as well, and I almost forgot about my "new" desk area. That armoire is so big that it is like a wall making a private little space in the corner... Even more private if one of the french doors is extended. Gosh to think I had that desk against a wall for years not knowing what to do, and then all of sudden it came to me. xoox Su

I'm continually amazed by the fantastic home you have made out of a typical desert ranch. The way you creatively used the original patio, carport and laundry areas to extend your living spaces is simply amazing. I never tire of seeing photos of your lovely, creative home. Thanks for putting together this home tour.

Thank you so much, Mary, for stopping by. I really appreciate your kind words and you thinking of me when I've been absent. It must be really looking beautiful in the garden with all the rain this year. I remember in February you had roses too. Have a wonderful week. xoxo Su

Thank you, Kim. It's is real sweet of you to stop by and leave me such a lovely compliment. Have a wonderful week. I just enjoyed three of your stories. One I had read before about the tooth, but I had missed the Pokemon. I get it. xoox Su

Your home is gorgeous, Su. There's so much to see and it all looks so serene and peaceful, except the Mad Hatter Library, which is just adorable. I think it might be my favorite, but it's hard to choose. As it's been said before... it should be in a magazine :)

Thank you so much, Rue. I am so happy that you like our Madhatter Library. It's fun. We use to even have out our Alice in Wonderland Chess, because my daughter use to like to play, but the cats kept knocking over the pieces. So now we have a giant pawn. xoxo Su

HI sue, your love of France and Swedish sounds like my home. I love the Nordic look and feel along with the French and I don't mind missing them. I love that you like myself love to decorate areas that most would not like your carport and mine being a garage.Every inch of your home calls out to me.... One thing I would like to ask, is where did you find your area rug under the new antique sofa? This is what I am looking for is a rich that is thin and best of all the fringe on each end. This is hard to find on rugs these days and when I do find them they are awful tones. Perhaps you could visit me and comment on your rug and I will check my site, this way I won't forget to return here for an answer. I am sure I will return but a reminder would be perfect.I just love the area rug under your new old sofa and it suits the room perfectly.I have to say your kitchen has always been a sweet favorite and your teen she cottage... As well as the cornered daybed.... I am on the hunt for a daybe for my office room that is small and would make a great guest spot for a sleep over.

Su your new tour was absolutely enjoyed! To get a walk through your enchanting home with carved out spaces and thoughtful storage solutions was inspiring. I love your daughters she shed and remember reading each post on its progression. What I learned new is that your sleeping porch remains cool without A/C in the heat. I love your sleeping porch... well I love your entire place. Small yes but it sure lives large! I think my white rabbit vase I purchased at the Philadelphia Flower show may be just like yours in your Mad Hatters library. Since we are both AIW fans I was drawn to it because it reminded me of it and somehow I know you too. Mine when flowers are not in it sits in my kitchen glass front cabinet charming me as I cook.Su have an inspiring April, new adventures and much happiness. See you over at IG.xoxo,Vera

Thank you so much, Vera. It is such a cute vase that we had to have it. That's adorable that it is in your kitchen. In my glass cabinet I have a rabbit candleholder and a rabbit bottle opener. :) I am always trying to figure out how to make the space work. It's kind of tricky, because we love books. Thank you, Vera for visiting. I always enjoy your feedback. xoxo Su

Su, I think this is the first time I've ever seen a tour of your house, including the exterior. You know how much I love your cottage....I'm your biggest fan, especially of your adorable kitchen. Your husband's office is so neat....I love how you have al the sheds and pretty garden to connect them all. You are so talented, and if we still lived in Scottsdale, I'd bug you constantly to help me decorate and fluff our home!!! ;P

Aww... Thank you, RJ ! We so use those sheds! My spouses and the potting shed are original. Sometimes it crosses my mind that it would be nice to live somewhere else, but I love all the odd places in this house, and a newer home wouldn't have it, but neither would another older home, because they are unique. xoxo Su

sujohnson

Christmas 2016

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Welcome to our vintage 1940s cottage fixer: built when homes were a big petite 1000 square feet with sleeping porches for summer cool. I adore romantic, vintage, a ruffle of French, Nordic, and Swedish country with a sprinkle of cottage glam: a relaxed whimsical, elegance. It's our home, and there is painting, music, gardening, creating, living, kitties, french poodles, (and a pug)...imperfect with luster.